It’s suggested that the term “Achilles’ heel”, meaning a seemingly insignificant point of fatal weakness, comes from exactly your observation of the Dendra Panoply, an armour of exactly the same period as Achilles and the Trojan War.
The panoply has been the subject of extensive academic study and experimental research. While many scholars have discussed its functionality,[10] significant experimental investigations have also been conducted. In 1988, Diana Wardle,[11] using a replica crafted by students at the Bournville College of Art, Birmingham (now part of Birmingham City University), made initial findings regarding its practical use. In 2012, professor Barry Molloy,[12] utilizing a different replica, contributed important insights into the kinematics of the armor. In 2018, archaeologist Spyros Bakas,[13] through a meticulous reconstruction of the panoply, provided crucial information on its distinctive features and the anatomy of its components, while also addressing the operational capabilities of the warrior. Most recently, in 2024, researchers from the University of Thessaly, led by professor Andreas Flouris, using Wardle’s 1980s replica, added new conclusions on the ergonomics and kinematics of the warrior wearing the armor, showing that “[a] group of special armed-forces personnel wearing a replica of the Dendra armour were able to complete an 11-hour simulated Late Bronze Age combat protocol that we developed from a series of studies based on the available evidence”.[2] This research indicates that the armour was perfectly suited to use in battle, not simply ceremonial as originally assumed.
It’s suggested that the term “Achilles’ heel”, meaning a seemingly insignificant point of fatal weakness, comes from exactly your observation of the Dendra Panoply, an armour of exactly the same period as Achilles and the Trojan War.
thanks for the link